On the Ground at AirVenture

Today I ARRIVED…..at Oshkosh. It must beÂ capitalizedÂ because if you fly into AirVenture, understated words just don’t work. It’s way too awesome, spectacular, scary, intense, and dozens of other unspoken words to describe quickly. Let’s just say I have the ultimate respect for every single pilot that plots their course and flies their aircraft to AirVenture. I flew solo but decided to fly along with a couple of friends in a 601 who had weather on-board.

It was an unexpected treat to see the MetLife blimp at my airport this morning, seeing us off on departure.

The MetLife blimp

Dave, Dennis and I spent quite a bit of time on 122.75 heading northwest and even though I hung back in the 5:00 position much of the time, I had to occasionally pull up, give ’em a little show and let them see what a Rans S7 can do!

Dave & Dennis in the 601

Can’t wait to see the video they shot! Actually, my climb rate blows the 601 out of the water but things evened out in the air. Initially I thought I’d be running circles around them but in the end we were more or less keeping pace. I need to find out what kind of power setting they were running – show off …. or business as usual?

How cool to finally arrive, taxi in and park my beautiful Rans S7 in a line of fine looking Rans, and more.

So what’s happening at Oshkosh on Sunday, the day before AirVenture actually begins? Plenty! People have been here for who knows how long getting things set up for all of us to start pouring in on Saturday and Sunday.

Homebuilders Registration was packed!

I wouldn’t exactly call it a “crowd” yet, but with a constant stream of aircraft arriving all day, the registration buildings were jammed packed.

But the food lines were non-existent. Good time to be hungry at Oshkosh!

Maybe they just haven’t worked an appetite up yet.

Dyke Delta from Key Largo, Florida

I hung around my airplane so long talking with everybody that wondered by that the only area I saw was Homebuilts.

A Davis DH-2 (?) from Middletown, OH

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A Kitfox 3 from Michigan with an 80 hp Rotax and dreams of being a radial.

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And the fine looking Rans S6S parked right next to me in Homebuilts.

If you think you see a theme here, you’re right – it’s Yellow. Seems like everything I snapped pictures of was yellow and the only reason I can come up with is, it must be in honor of the 75th anniversary of the J3 Cub. Sadly, the mass arrival of all the Cubs happened before I arrived but maybe they’ll have a fly-by this week I can see?

On the ground at gathering spot, Hartford, WI for mass flyout to Oshkosh Sunday.

Thanks for checking out LadiesLoveTaildraggers. Tomorrow’s forecast is for a steamy 97 degrees with lots more aircraft expected to arrive – Â we can all melt together! Wish us luck with the heat and check back tomorrow for an update. And someone please tell me, why do I have a dorm room on the 6th floor at the U of W – with no air conditioning?!!

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6 Comments

Helen, I’m TWO floors higher this year than last year when I got stuck in the elevator – and I actually got back in the damn thing again yesterday! Vanessa, I’ll find you today – we’ll finally get to meet. I can’t wait to hear about your flying adventure from Oregon.

Oh no way Rusty, you know I’m a camping wimp! The LLT girls are meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn Rooftop restaurant Tues & Friday for lunch at 11:30. Ride the North 40 bus over. Mooney Bob will be there. Have a fun flight guys and see you up here!

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Helen

Vanessa Jump Nelson

Judy!!!!! I didn’t see you, but that’s me in the Cub photo you took, walking with the red backpack & rolled up jeans. I can’t believe we came that close to meeting but didn’t. You probably saw Tumbleweed if you were at that row with the orange Cub from Watsonville’s “Stick and Rudder” flight school.

i’ve been hanging out a lot with the group of fellow Oregonians from the Hood River WAAAM museum, who brought the 3 cylinder J3-P on a trailer, assembled it at Hartford, and flew it in our mass flight in here yesterday. It’s black with a yellow stripe & parked with an E-2 Cub at the intersection wherebthere’s a Piper display, north of the yellow Cubs. I get my phone out of the charging station today & will call you. Camping under the wing on the field is the best fit for me. No shuttles to worry about, crickets & airplanes are like music. There’s a camp store at Osh. Maybe it’s not too late to buy a tent & camp out. :0)

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Rusty

git ur butt out to the plane with a tent and do er up right. The worst part of the dorm for me was the waiting for the bus.
Hey, Judy, are you having a get together of any kind? I plan to arrive Tue morning.
Did you check out the grass landing area down at the south end?